Getting the Balance right.

[blueharmie]

I wonder if there is tension over new contracts?

[Vardinio'sCat]

I think Vardy's lack of fitness has been having an impact all our attackers, I noticed how Shinji was often trying to press today, but Jamie just didn't have the legs, and resorted to pointing! Bless. Previously Vardy was making extra space for Mahrez, and making fantastic runs for Riyad too, so there is that.

 

We only found out that Vardy hasn't trained for a month in the last few days, and I wonder if something is holding Riyad back, beyond the fact that he is more heavily marked than he has ever been.

 

And it might not be physical, but more mental fatigue as well, as he is very young in terms of this kind of pressure.

[trabuch]

I wonder if there is tension over new contracts?

 

Something like this. I'll be glad when January is over.

[lgfualol]

Again i disagree.

 

Playing him against the big teams will undoubtedly be our undoing.

 

 

The team was worse tonight when he was on the pitch.

Are you saying you disagree that he is a massive player for us and we wouldn't be much worse off without him in any game this season? 

 

He's got 13 goals and 7 assists so far , that's more goals and assists than any of our players got individually for the whole of last season. You've been spoiled. 

[jayfox26]

I was at the game today and there is no hiding the fact that Mahrez and Vardy were both poor again. I can't help but feel fatigue is playing a part in this, especially 2nd half we looked tired and maybe CR needs to start using the squad more. For me Mahrez should have been benched today and dyer or gray given a game and I think we would have won. Vardy also needs a rest and can't keep playing every game which is why I feel we need another striker as ulloa isn't good enough in my opinion. I feel as though there is too much reliance on vardy and Mahrez to get goals and assists and we need another player who can chip in. For £4m we defo should have gone for Austin

[Dan]

We've turned a bit too defensive. I thought we adapted to the bigger challenges very well but we seem so set in being defensive that we've forgotten how to truly tear these poorer teams apart. Leicester of September loses at Spurs, but wins today.

[Dan]

Coming away from Villa park I was, like everyone, bitterly disapointed.

 

 

The lack of energy, the impression that Vardy had a pre-match bet for most amount of passes to an opposition team in history, the lethargic and apparent lack of confidence from an algerian who should be riding high on the crest of a wave, instead fearing to make any sort of risky play.

 

It was a villa performance which left me wondering how they have a higher points total than Derby in their 'record-breaking' season.

 

 

Yet after all that....we missed a penalty, a good chance from drinkwater and a miss from ulloa which made me question whether he is trapped between a parallel universe and this one resulting in a 3 second delay.

 

 

 

 

It was, for me, our best defensive performance of the season. Fuchs was fuchs, simpson was solid despite riyad again leaving his man. Huth and Morgan man mountains, with Morgan proving he is currently the form defender in the premier league.

 

 

 

But with all this, have we lost our attacking intent as a result?

 

Are we perhaps a better 'team' without mahrez?

 

You've got to be joking surely. Huth was awful. At fault for the goal, lucky to not be at fault for another with Kozak's miss where he Konchesky'd and fouled Kozak in the box too. We relied on a solid defensive display and didn't get one.

[jayfox26]

You've got to be joking surely. Huth was awful. At fault for the goal, lucky to not be at fault for another with Kozak's miss where he Konchesky'd and fouled Kozak in the box too. We relied on a solid defensive display and didn't get one.

Agreed, Huth was terrible today. And I also thought Fuchs wasn't great either. If it wasn't for the fact Villa are dreadful we would have been beaten today. No positives to take from this game other than we temporarily go back top

[weller54]

Huth's worse performance with us..

Total liability..

Another who should be benched and bring Wasilewski in!

[crisp packet]

It is not sticking up top. None of our forwards hold the ball up? Or have been. ( holding it)

We have become far to one dimensional , Hollywood passes to vardy. Who is not fit or in form at the minute.

The cup game didn't really do any favours as yes it shown as we all new our squad is competitive. But we still lack another keeper and more importantly our forward line behind shinzi and vardy is shockingly light!

Leo looks lost . Fans still backing him with his great song but sorry he's just awful this season. Two forwards are a must !

Squad needs boosting. Newcastle and Bournemouth both strengthen and win .

Club needs boost to push us over the line...! ( and the fans to carry on backing the team)

We are top of the PREMIER LEAGUE

It's January the 17th but one win in five... Twist or bust?? Twist please.

[RowlattsFox]

This is our problem at the minute, not finding the right balance. I hope it's not an intentional tactic by Claudio, we've had some tough games and maybe the players mind set has changed and we need to flick the switch back.

Mentioned this in the post match thread but our biggest problem currently is becuase we are so deep we are winning the ball back in areas where we can't take advantage. Whereas before we were winning the ball back in the opposition half and running straight at the defence.

We are far too deep, probably worried about the opposition getting in behind. Maybe it's fatigue and the defence and midfield are struggling to get up the pitch as much.

[Guest Col city fan]

You know, if Mahrez had scored those two penalties we'd be 'riding high' at the top of the Premiership. As in, with more of a cushion.

The comments on this forum would generally be different...I think it would go more along the lines of 'we're grinding out wins and Ranieri has tightened up the defence', type thing.

A lot of theories are being postulated. Mahrez 'head has been turned', Vardy isn't fit, Claudio has ditched attacking in favour of defending etc.

I think we are just having our 'lull' in the season. All teams have them. Arsenal have had theirs I think, Man City had a bad spell before Christmas. Chelsea are lucky to be drawing at home (their 'lull' has been ALL season). West Ham lost yesterday.

So calm down, enjoy the fact that we are where we are. Accept that no team is running away with it and appreciate that if it weren't for two bloody daft penalties (I'm still angry about that...there is no excuse for taking such stinking pennos at this level), we would be a few points clear now.

[ian_marshall]

...but why should their confidence be so low when the team are TOP of the league.. Doesn't make any sense..

Fatigue is the only explanation, and of course vardy has an excuse with his recent groin injury. But Mahrez?.. He's just gone completely into his shell.

Think he's simply getting frustrated. Its quite obvious that teams are now doubling up and tripling up on him, and consequently he simply can't play his game.

We need to swap him and Albrighton around in my opinion as this will give teams different problems, and personally I believe Albrighton is a better player on the right.